The base strength and basicity of MgO, CaO and Mg-Al oxide were studied for the synthesis of propylene glycol methyl ether from methanol and propylene oxide. The results showed that solid base with moderate strength such as MgO facilitated the formation of propylene C Glycol methyl ether. FTIR illustrated that methanol dissociated to methoxide species on MgO surface, while no dissociation took place on CaO. The moderate base strength and weak Lewis acid sites on MgO were very important for the methanol dissociation and then the synthesis of propylene glycol methyl ether. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.